New Registry to keep track of Medical Cannabis Users

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on May 12, 2015.

Two groups, including the research wing of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, have launched a Registry of Medical Cannabis users that aims at collecting information on how marijuana is used and whether it meets patient safety or not.

The database is expected to provide ample opportunities to other researchers who seek information on symptoms and side affects of marijuana use.

MCGill University claims that the medical marijuana registry is the first research database of its kind in the world. According to the data released by Health Canada, over 40,000 Canadians legally consume cannabis to relieve symptoms from diseases such as multiple sclerosis, HIV, cancer or epilepsy.

Researchers at MCGill University believe that now it would be possible to paint a better picture of who is using cannabis, why they are doing so and to what extent they use it. The database will come in handy for the medical researchers who are willing to dig deeper into this. According to Health Canada, over 40,000 Canadians consume medical pots and 3,000 of them are living in Quebec where the registry has been created.

Even if the registry will have a lot of useful details, the doctors must be trained on how to enter data and use them effectively. The registry won't have any identifiable patient information so that their privacy is protected. The registry will remain active for a minimum period of 10 years and involve thousands of patients.